The project is similar to last year. The project is connected with an organization called Project Mail Call (http://www.projectmailcall.com and Facebook - Project Mail Call) and is run by a couple who lives in Sibley Forest. Project Mail Call chooses units to help via the following criteria: 1. Remote locations (no stores) 2. Units that are not receiving mail 3. Units that are doing humanitarian work. In the last 7 years, Project Mail Call has mailed over 3,800 boxes, sent over 63,000 pounds, mailed to troops in 28 countries and served over 100,000 troops. Amazing that we are able to be a part of this!!
There are three parts to the service project:
1st: Albums
I will deliver an album of pictures and response letters from care packages sent to the military to each of your classrooms on the morning of Friday, January 20th. Please circulate this album around your classroom and/or read a letter a day to your class. These albums are a great way for your students to understand the impact that their letters and donations will have. I will pick the albums up on the 27th.
2nd: Letter writing to the military (last year, many students received responses to their letters!!)
Also on Friday, January 20th - I will deliver letter size envelopes to your class for each of your students. Please have each student write a letter to the military and place the letter in the envelope. Here are a few guidelines for the letter writing portion of this project:
Do NOT include the last name of the student.
These will be sent to all branches of the military so address generically.
If they have trouble writing something, they can write about what they are learning at school, what they are up to at home, etc. or see sample letters
These will be sent out in February and March (please don't write Happy Valentines because they will receive them after the 14th of February)
Each student will receive an envelope and on the outside of the envelope they will need to put some information:
Example:
This letter came from Ms. Jenkins 5th Grade Class
Sope Creek Elementary
Marietta, GA
teacher email address (this is optional, but sometimes the soldier will reply to the letter via email)
PLEASE DON'T SEAL THE ENVELOPE!!!!!!!
The soldiers LOVE receiving letters from "back home!" Their favorite letters are from kids, remind them that many soldiers have kids back home their age! Their letters will be sent to a Unit, which can have anywhere between 5-500 soldiers! So many will read their letters! Every care package that is sent out has at least one letter in it. Their letters will make a difference and bring a smile to many soldiers.
3rd: Donating items for the Care Packages
The fifth graders are also asked to donate items that will be included in care packages that will be sent, along with their letters, to our troops. Along with the album and envelopes, I will drop off a bin in your classroom on Friday morning, January 20th.
Please be sure to explain to your students that these items are a luxury to the soldiers. The care packages that they will be contributing to are the ones that are delivered by helicopter to some of the most remote areas. There is no place for the soldiers to purchase any of theses items where they are located. The military can be out and away from their base for days, up to months. Therefore they are unable to shower during this time (importance of baby wipes). The military are required to drink A LOT of water (10 bottles worth) a day to avoid dehydration (powdered drink mixes are a nice treat for them).
Here is a list of items that the project leader for Project Mail Call has suggested: (the ones in bold are the ones they are always most in need of)
men's razors (prefer Fusion or Mack 3)
deodorant
shaving gels/creams
toothpaste
toothbrushes
chap stick
baby wipes
shampoo
body lotion
dental floss
eye drops (you can ask your eye doctor for samples)
foot powder (prefer Gold Bond)
power bars
individual packets of crackers
ramen noodles
microwaveable macaroni and cheese
ground coffee
instant hot chocolate
powdered drink mixes (prefer ones with extra electrolytes - eg. Gatorade, Propel)
candy (eg. Twizzlers, hard candy)
chewing gum
mints
fruit chews
batteries (AA and AAA)
DVD's (new or used)
Hotties (keep hands and feet warm)
Women's hygiene products too (eg. razors, deodorant, etc.)
To recap, I'll be dropping of an album, envelopes and a bin in your classroom on the morning of Friday, January 20th. I will be picking up your letters, donations and album at 8:00 am on Friday, January 27th (please place your bin by the door so I don't disturb your class).
I've already sent out information about the service project to parents in the PTA e-blast that went out today and then I will send you a "blurb" to put in your blogs as soon as we get back from break.
Thank you in advance for your help in making this service project a huge success. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me - heathermcafee@mac.com or 770-980-4080.
Heather McAfee
